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Great One drops in on Royals

Great One drops in on Royals

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Wayne Gretzky, along with his wife and son, joined the Royals in their workout prior to Monday night's game.

The hockey legend, now coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, was invited by Royals Hall of Famer George Brett and senior director of team travel Jeff Davenport, both friends of The Great One.

"I grew up wishing I could be a baseball player," Gretzky said.

His son, Trevor, worked out with the Royals on Sunday, and Gretzky and his wife, actress Janet Jones, climbed into uniforms and joined him on Monday. Gretzky, of course, wore No. 99.

Jones has a baseball background -- she played a Racine pitcher in the movie "A League of Their Own."

"So she was out there battling today. She had more fun than anybody," Gretzky said. "I was just sort of out there. I felt like a manager just walking around yelling. You know, I haven't picked up a ball in 15 years. The last time I went out and actually went out and threw and hit, I was with Kirk McCaskill of the Angels back in '93. I'm 47 now, so I was just kind of out there."

Davenport said Jones took batting practice very seriously.

"She was going over to the video camera every time and checking her swing," he said.

Son Trevor, a high school player, got catching instructions from Royals catcher John Buck.

Gretzky, Brett and former NFL quarterback Dan Fouts made it three Hall of Famers throwing out ceremonial first pitches before the game against the Dodgers.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.